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Home , Blue vanga, Coua, Crested coua, Giant coua, Ground roller, Neomixis

HIGHLIGHTS NOVEMBER 6–21, 2018

AMPIJOROA-BETSIBOKA PRE-TRIP NOVEMBER 2–8, 2018

Indri

LEADER: DION HOBCROFT LIST COMPILED BY: DION HOBCROFT

VICTOR EMANUEL NATURE TOURS, INC. 2525 WALLINGWOOD DRIVE, SUITE 1003 AUSTIN, TEXAS 78746 WWW.VENTBIRD.COM

AMPIJOROA-BETSIBOKA PRE-TRIP NOVEMBER 2–8, 2018

We managed to visit remote Katsepy Lighthouse where a population of the rare Crowned Sifaka survives.

Our party of five ladies convened in Antananarivo. After Jessica’s errant suitcase was retrieved by Fano, the stage was set for our pre-tour to remote northwest Madagascar. As ever, the sequence of the tour changed several times due to the erratic scheduling of Air Madagascar, this time for the best, as a new flight was scheduled but in the evening, and it saved us a full day of driving. So, on this first day we spent some time shopping and dining, and in the afternoon we spent a couple of hours at Lac Alarobia, a privately owned wetland in a gated estate that is packed to the gills with ducks and nesting herons. Looking through the more typical , our visit was highlighted by a solitary male Comb Duck, seven Meller’s Ducks, and two stunningly beautiful Madagascar Pond-Herons in full breeding plumage. Arriving at the airport was well-timed for a great view of a Sooty Falcon. Our flight took off on time, and an hour later we were set up in the markedly more tropical climate of Mahjunga.

Victor Emanuel Nature Tours 2 Madagascar Highlights & Ampijoroa-Betsiboka Pre-trip, 2018 Our luck held on the Bestiboka delta with a single Bernier’s Teal allowing superb views! One of the world’s rare ducks!

After some effort, we boarded our boat to take us up the delta of the Betsiboka River to islands of . This area is home to two rare endemics—the Madagascar Sacred Ibis and the Bernier’s Teal. Our luck was in, and we scored a single teal that showed extremely well–we even radioed it in to another group of birders. The ibis were also quite good, and despite a very low tide we could get close enough views to see the whites of their eyes, so that is close! Shorebirds were conspicuous including good looks at Greater Sand-Plover, Terek Sandpiper, and Curlew Sandpipers, while a small party of Saunder’s Terns were observed plunge-fishing in the main bay. A stiff sea-breeze kicked up early, and with the main targets under our belt we returned to Mahjunga. After a superb lunch and three-hour drive, we found ourselves gazing at our first lemurs—the stunningly beautiful Coquerel’s Sifaka. These snowy white, long-legged, maroon patched beauties munched mangos as they stared at us with golden eyes. A Sickle-billed on a nest was a good pickup as the forest echoed to chattering Broad-billed Rollers and rollicking Lesser

Victor Emanuel Nature Tours 3 Madagascar Highlights & Ampijoroa-Betsiboka Pre-trip, 2018 Vasa-Parrots. We spent our first night at Fano’s new guest house where we were fed home-cooked meals by Jacky’s wife. Cold beer went down well in the heat.

Great views of the elusive White-breasted (without even playing for them) were a treat.

Restless Schlegel’s Asities gave us a bit of a runaround the next morning. Finally the male settled, and it was the cause of much “wowing” as it is a truly superb little forest , found only in the humid vine forests of west Madagascar. The color in the facial skin defies logic. Without even using playback we had almost immediate success with the next major target, the cryptic White-breasted Mesite. The pair was not too concerned about us and flipped leaf litter as they poked about on the forest floor, finally coming up to the edge of the trail for good unobscured views and photographic chances of these quintessential Madagascan skulkers. In between these sightings there had been a constant procession of new including such gems as , Ashy -, and Crested and Coquerel’s . Van Dam’s Vanga was proving to be a tough nut to crack, living up to its well-earned nickname of “That Damned Vanga,” and with the heat building we pulled the plug to have lunch and a siesta. Walking out we found another pair of and had two fast views of Madagascar Crested Ibis. A great way to cool down came in the afternoon as we boated around Lac Ravelobe. Amazing views were had of the highly endangered Madagascar Fish-Eagle, one of which was bathing on the edge of the lake. A bonus was two pairs of Madagascar Grebes. A short walk to twin giant Baobab trees some 800-years-old produced a Giant Hog-nosed Snake that impressed all, disappearing into a hidden burrow and then re-appearing like magic.

Victor Emanuel Nature Tours 4 Madagascar Highlights & Ampijoroa-Betsiboka Pre-trip, 2018 After dark we went for a spotlight walk in a remnant patch of forest next to the guesthouse. The Golden- brown Mouse Lemurs gave exquisite views, not too concerned with the torchlight and clearly interested in the ripening figs. Two Madagascar Tree Boas were the final highlight of the day, both handsome specimens settled into rodent ambush mode.

A male Cuckoo-Roller, an avian living fossil, was fantastically tame at Ampijoroa.

Back on the trail of Van Dam’s Vanga, we were distracted by several high-quality encounters, best of which was a perched France’s Goshawk and then an incredible male Cuckoo-Roller. A Milne-Edward’s Sportive Lemur was spotted at the entrance to a tree hollow it uses as a day-roost. The VDV piped up and, after some re-positioning in the tall vine thicket, bang, up it popped for two good close encounters, yet it was quick to sweep away. Following this we tracked down a vocal male that was well-behaved in the end. Then we made a dash to a distant ephemeral wetland that produced the hoped-for Madagascar Jacana—now a very difficult to see in accessible areas. Heartening, it was a male with two small chicks. A small flock of the ornamentally plumaged African Pygmy-Geese showed well, another good regional pickup for our list of over 80 species. The jacana was the final of the specific birds we hoped

Victor Emanuel Nature Tours 5 Madagascar Highlights & Ampijoroa-Betsiboka Pre-trip, 2018 to see, so with a clean slate (often not the case) we returned to Mahjunga for some air-conditioning and fine cuisine.

With time up our sleeve, we hatched an adventure to Katsepy Lighthouse. After breakfast we loaded again in a boat and crossed the Betsiboka delta. Arriving on the south side of the river, we drove in a taxi-brousse to the lighthouse built in 1901. Here the lighthouse keeper led us straight to a party of the highly localized Crowned Sifaka, a unit of six including a cute youngster riding piggyback on mum. They were unconcerned by our presence, even coming down onto the ground and leaping around in their spectacular fashion. It was a great encounter. Not many birds to report, although a Sooty Falcon flew over, and later we found a Peregrine Falcon consuming a Rock Pigeon. Some of us climbed up the lighthouse for good views of the endless coastline. In the afternoon we visited a local man who is a sand artist—quite exquisite illustrations made with colored sand poured precisely into glass bottles. Most could not resist purchasing some of these quite amazing and bargain priced display pieces. As ever, Madagascar Air gave us some grief, the plane eventually arriving and departing but very late. It was a tired group who arrived in Antananarivo, which was unfortunate as the whole of the tour had gone exceedingly smoothly otherwise in what can be a difficult and remote area to operate in. Luckily, another flight rescheduling gave us the time for a relaxing sleep-in, and the stage was set for the main tour. Thanks for traveling with me!

A close encounter with France’s Goshawk was a highlight in Ampijoroa.

Victor Emanuel Nature Tours 6 Madagascar Highlights & Ampijoroa-Betsiboka Pre-trip, 2018

A Crested strikes an inquisitive pose in Ampijoroa.

Victor Emanuel Nature Tours 7 Madagascar Highlights & Ampijoroa-Betsiboka Pre-trip, 2018 MADAGASCAR HIGHLIGHTS NOVEMBER 6–21, 2018

The superb Long-tailed Ground-Roller: impossible to see without the help of the amazing local guides in the Spiny Forest.

With our group of intrepid birders now complete, those newly arrived played a bit of catch-up in the hotel gardens in Antananarivo: best, a pair of roosting Barn Owls, here of the African (apparently poensis ), and a pair of Madagascar Nightjars. Our flight took off close to schedule and arrived in Toliara to a gale and dust storm. The wind was really whipping along, so it was a great surprise to find a female Greater Painted-Snipe feeding in a small pond beside the road to Ifaty. More typical shorebirds present included Curlew Sandpiper, Kittlitz’s Plover, Black-winged Stilt, and Ruddy Turnstone. Our next great surprise was the rare Madagascar Plover, a good result to see so well from the bus in a storm! At dusk the wind settled down, and a short walk produced great looks at the extraordinarily cute Gray-brown Mouse Lemur.

The morning, as the pattern would become, was still and calm, perfect for us to visit the Spiny Forest Reserve with expert local guides Freddy and Riddafy, members of Mosa’s family, the patriarch of Spiny Forest birding. We were a bit slow to gain momentum, but while the lads were hot on the trail of footprints of Subdesert Mesite, we kicked our first goal with Archbold’s followed closely by the amazing

Victor Emanuel Nature Tours 8 Madagascar Highlights & Ampijoroa-Betsiboka Pre-trip, 2018 Sickle-billed Vanga. Next was a superb view of Madagascar Sparrowhawk at the nest. Then the incredible Long-tailed Ground-Roller, a superb male, was shepherded towards us for a great encounter. Thamnornis was in vocal form, and we had multiple encounters in the morning. A Madagascar Harrier-Hawk with its facial skin flushed pinkish red sailed over us. Our final major of the morning was a superb view of the sparse Lafresnaye’s Vanga—always handy to see this elusive bird. In the afternoon, the gale force ocean winds sprang forth again—with the advantage of keeping the temperatures down. This time Freddy and Riddafy had treed a male Subdesert Mesite, and they led us straight there—hooray for this, as it is probably the most difficult of the important endemics to see in the Spiny Forest. Then we were taken towards the territory of a that had a recently fledged chick. The coua was not too concerned about us and came in close by for some truly amazing views. In between all of these selected highlights was a procession of more common birds ranging from Souimanga Sunbird, Namaqua Dove, Stripe- throated Jery, Sakalava Weaver, Lesser Vasa-Parrot, Red , and . No one on the tour will forget this amazing day when beyond the birds we were shown some amazing lizards like Standing’s Day and the fearsome blue-legged “Kung fu“ Cricket that even Riddafy was fearful of being nipped by.

Running Coua

With the pattern of gales developing by 11 am, we left Ifaty early, drove to Toliara, and embarked our vessel straight for Nosy Ve. I was not for mucking around and headed straight to the tern roost (after a Humpback Whale turned up), where our good luck held with three Crab Plovers mixed in a good variety

Victor Emanuel Nature Tours 9 Madagascar Highlights & Ampijoroa-Betsiboka Pre-trip, 2018 of terns and shorebirds that included White-fronted Plover and a couple of Common Terns that are not overly common in this region. Next were the Red-tailed Tropicbirds that showed so well including one incubating under a bush, while a few Madagascar Swifts bombed over and a Madagascar was a bit of a surprise on the island, a good flight over the open ocean for this seemingly cumbersome bird. Keen on avoiding the imminent gale, we moved straight to our luxury accommodations at Anakao, and what a stunning place as ever. In the late afternoon we had little trouble enjoying repeat views of Littoral Rock- Thrush, Subdesert Brush-Warbler, and some delightful Gray-headed Lovebirds. The great gale arrived as predicted, and I was glad the plan had worked well.

Not often you get this close to a perched Greater Vasa Parrot, this individual in Tsimanampesotse.

This was the day for exploring the remote Tsimanampesotse National Park, and after an early breakfast we were off in three four-wheel-drive cars, swimming through deep sand in a re-enactment of the Paris to Dakar rally. Our local guides had staked out a small party of the handsome yet elusive Madagascar

Victor Emanuel Nature Tours 10 Madagascar Highlights & Ampijoroa-Betsiboka Pre-trip, 2018 Sandgrouse. They allowed a reasonably close approach, and the scope did the rest. While watching these, a Madagascar Plover turned up next to us, a color-banded individual. We made a stop at a research camp where the kitchen lady showed us a Dumeril’s Boa under a cupboard! Driving to the campsite, we saved a Tortoise from being scrunched while a Green-capped Coua loitered on the track for all to see. Doing the two-kilometer loop trail into the limestone karst plateau, we enjoyed fantastic plant communities, a cave complete with blind fish, and excellent views of a troop of Ring-tailed Lemurs. Birds were excellent, and new for us were several tame Greater Vasa-Parrots, a Hook-billed Vanga, and stunning looks at the localized Verreaux’s Coua. After lunch we drove to the western side of the lake and had close views of a few hundred Greater Flamingos and four Lesser Flamingos. A surprise was a pair of Caspian Terns, my first sighting of this widely distributed species in Madagascar. We barreled back through the sandy tracks and enjoyed a relaxing afternoon. Some people snorkeled in the bay reporting wrasse, gobies, butterfly fish, and some cool starfish.

The Ring-tailed Lemur is perhaps the icon of Madagascar where it is called Maki. This individual was seen in Isalo.

Departing Anakao in the morning by boat, we weathered a few technical gremlins with water in the fuel tank before Captain Jacquis and the deckhand sorted it with siphons, their teeth, and some true grit. Back

Victor Emanuel Nature Tours 11 Madagascar Highlights & Ampijoroa-Betsiboka Pre-trip, 2018 on the bus with Alex and Roco, we made a loop of the D’Antsokay Arboretum with Jean-Tou as our guide. Between learning about Moringa , Adansonia , Pachypodium, and Didierea, he skillfully pointed out a variety of interesting critters ranging from a Warty , a dozing Gray-brown Mouse Lemur, Madagascar Nightjar, Green-capped Coua, and a stunning turquoise Day Gecko, mutabilis . While shopping we discovered two roosting Commerson’s Leaf-nosed Bats. Enjoying lunch, Jean-Tou reappeared to lead us to a female Madagascar Buttonquail. Hooray for this. We made the lengthy drive through the wild-west sapphire towns, barren grasslands, and quite unbelievable dust storms and micro bursts of torrential rain with some minor flash-flooding and much lightning. Upon entering the stark sandstone escarpments of Isalo National Park, a pair of Madagascar Partridges were located and gave great views. We settled into the deluxe Reine de la Rein for a two-night stay.

Lucien and his team took us deep into the woods for this great encounter with White-browed Owls in Zombitse.

Today our primary focus was on the Zombitse National Park. We were in the capable hands of Lucien, Gold, and Toussaint. They were quickly down to business, skillfully shepherding a towards us. A giant male Oustalet’s Chameleon, the world’s largest chameleon, clambered beside us in the dense vine forest when a pair of the rare Appert’s Tetraka materialized next to us, quite unconcerned, in a mixed

Victor Emanuel Nature Tours 12 Madagascar Highlights & Ampijoroa-Betsiboka Pre-trip, 2018 flock that held a Rufous Vanga. Cuckoo-Roller was in great form, and we had several good perched views of multiple males. Verreaux’s Sifaka fed about us, leaping acrobatically, and after it seemed a lost cause we were shown a Hubbard’s Sportive Lemur resting in front of its tree hollow hideout. At lunch Coquerel’s Coua responded to playback, a male Red-tailed Vanga showed well, an Alpine Swift was picked out of a small flock of Madagascar Swifts, while the Madagascar Spine-tailed Swift was another handy sighting of a sparse endemic. Despite much effort our local guides could not find a White-browed Owl, so we returned to the luxury of the hotel where some folks enjoyed a massage, hiking, or just resting. Late in the afternoon we drummed up a lovely White-throated . At dusk a Torotoroka Scops-Owl showed some interest but refused to leave its dense vine tangle for any form of view.

Not endemic to Madagascar but always fun to see, the Hamerkop is quite scarce in this country.

Hoping to find the scops-owl roosting only led to two wet feet for the leader in a positively marshy experience. More success was had with Forest Rock-Thrush. After breakfast we took a hike into a valley, well-timed for the appearance of a troop of Ring-tailed Lemurs. Beautiful paradise-flycatchers fed at arm’s-length. Heading back to Toliara, upon reaching Zombitse there was breaking news of a White- browed Owl pair roosting. This saw us on a lengthy hike deep in the woods. The views were great of this most handsome owl. On the return hike we bumped into another family of Verreaux‘s Sifaka. It was a great result. Tired but happy, we made it back to Toliara where the staff at the Hotel Moringa did a great job feeding us, especially the chocolate plate!

Our last day in the far southwest of Madagascar had arrived. Freddy and Riddafy led us into a territory of the elusive Red-shouldered Vanga, and with their assistance great views were had of the male, while the female was more aloof. Madagascar Lark caused some commotion, as we had driven by many, and this

Victor Emanuel Nature Tours 13 Madagascar Highlights & Ampijoroa-Betsiboka Pre-trip, 2018 was the first to provide a good look for all! Good fortune prevailed with the Humblot’s Heron making a necessary appearance, while Madagascar Cuckoo finally showed itself and a cute Little Stint gave close views. After a fantastic lunch at Bakuba our plane arrived and departed as scheduled. A Sooty Falcon was hunting around the airport lights—the second time I have seen this nocturnal behavior in this species at this location.

The Indri: the largest surviving lemur in Madagascar, famous for its incredible song.

The wetland behind the Hotel Tamboho was quiet this year—all the ducks seeming to have been scared off beyond a single Hottentot Teal and a small party of White-faced Whistling-Ducks. Heading to Andasibe we enjoyed some close Hamerkops and Brown-throated Martins feeding in the ricefields. Madagascar Pratincoles were faithful to their nesting island in the Mangoro River—such dapper birds. Checking into the fabulous Mantadia Hotel, after a break we were straight into the forest where, with tireless Julian, we soon kicked two great goals with amazing views of the Madagascar Crested Ibis and a remarkably tame

Victor Emanuel Nature Tours 14 Madagascar Highlights & Ampijoroa-Betsiboka Pre-trip, 2018 and open Red-breasted Coua. We found it hard to tear ourselves away from our first Indris—a family of four feeding close overhead. We then found it hard to tear ourselves away from an extraordinary Leaf- tailed Gecko ( Uroplatus sikorae )—among the most superbly camouflaged of all vertebrates. Still there was a Madagascar Long-eared Owl to find and, after a short uphill walk, it was in the scope but well-tucked into its pine tree roost. A night walk produced good views of Goodman’s Mouse Lemur and Furry-eared Dwarf Lemur plus a translucent beautiful tree frog named Boophis viridis .

The camouflage of the Leaf-tailed Gecko in the rainforest of Andasibe is unbelievable.

Victor Emanuel Nature Tours 15 Madagascar Highlights & Ampijoroa-Betsiboka Pre-trip, 2018 The prognosis was that this would be a cracking day, and what a cracking day it would be. It was us living the dream as we focused on , , Vanga, , Collared Nightjar, Madagascar Pygmy , Diademed Sifaka right next to us, a female Velvet Asity, Lesser Bamboo Lemurs, an amazing encounter with a family of Indri where they let rip with their sonic wailing song over our heads, a fantastic Henst’s Goshawk perched (!!!), and a mixed flock with , Rand’s Tetraka, Ashy Cuckoo-shrike, Blue Vanga, plus a Madagascar Tree Boa found basking on the trail. We finished with a troop of Brown Lemurs and a family of White-throated Rails: pretty much everything seen fantastically well. After a siesta it started slowly, but I only had to mention the “funereal” word and the fuse was struck first with fantastic looks at followed by Ward’s Flycatcher (Vanga), (renamed ooh-aah after the participants’ response), and quite well-behaved White-throated Oxylabes. After this rush it slowed again, so we headed to dinner, as usual very fine.

The stunning Collared Nightjar, yet another of Madagascar’s rare endemic birds.

This was a major day of the tour as we explored Mantadia National Park—quite a remote and pristine park characterized by clear forest streams at about 3,000 feet above sea level. This is ground-roller country, and it was clear Julian was on a mission! Pitta-like Ground-Roller gave itself up relatively easily for some good, clear, long views of this most beautiful species. Scaly Ground-Roller took a long time to pin down where it was calling from, but it too came in and, although not as close, the views were good for all. Heading to a different section of the park, Julian stopped the lead vehicle for the shape of a large raptor. The drivers relocated it but even with the pointers could not get any of us on it! Luckily, Santaram walked forward with me, and while pointing and myself scanning I located it. My god, the Madagascar

Victor Emanuel Nature Tours 16 Madagascar Highlights & Ampijoroa-Betsiboka Pre-trip, 2018 Serpent-Eagle complete with crest, tucked in at a mid level perch. In the ensuing panic to show it to the group, the serpent-eagle flew before most could make it out unfortunately, and that was the end of that! Those fortunate enough to see it had been lucky enough to see one of this island’s most rarely encountered species. It was a lifer for me! Moving back into the forest we had a superb encounter with a Red-fronted Coua. This completed all of the couas in Madagascar. A fabulous mixed flock showed up and gave repeat sightings of many forest birds. New for us was the Wedge-tailed Jery—an uncommon and unobtrusive tetraka that spent most of its time buried in an epiphytic fern. After lunch shared with several beautiful Lineated Day , Julian heard Short-legged Ground-Roller calling steep upslope on the far side of a swamp. Undaunted we ploughed in and upwards, and when it looked like all was lost, up they popped for good views. Struggling downhill and out, it is unlikely few will forget this species. It was, however, a three ground-roller day—an outstanding feat and testament to Julian’s heroic forest skills in finding these cryptic but sought after birds. We finished the session at the small dam where the faithful Madagascar Grebes had raised two chicks again this year.

As I often call it, “Phantom of the Forest,” the Scaly Ground-Roller is typically highly elusive.

Victor Emanuel Nature Tours 17 Madagascar Highlights & Ampijoroa-Betsiboka Pre-trip, 2018

It was an uphill struggle to see the elusive Short-legged Ground-Roller, well worth the effort!

Our last full day of birding was upon us, and we opted to visit the marshes at Anturoturofutsy. Walking in, we had success with the White-headed Vanga and great looks at two Madagascar Blue-Pigeons in the scope. This was followed by several in flight views of the large and endangered Madagascar Snipe. A Madagascar Rail gave an all too brief view but called and called. A male Madagascar Flufftail responded brilliantly in quite open eucalyptus plantation understory and beeped at us for nearly five minutes. An absolutely stunning Parson’s Chameleon proved the final highlight of the morning session. The afternoon ended with more of a whimper than a bang as the Madagascar Starling gave little more than a brief flyover for some, the Madagascar Rail kept obstinately silent, and of the hoped-for Madagascar Wood-Rail there was not a peep. Still we had done so very well on this tour that indeed fulfilled the title of Madagascar Highlights. We had stayed in lovely hotels, with great food. The many service providers had been outstanding and the wildlife sightings truly superb. A big thank you to Fano; Jacky in Ampijoroa; Freddy and Riddafy in the Spiny Forest; Ordon in Isalo; Julian, Rico, and Marcelle in Andasibe; plus our teams of drivers and the many other locals who made this tour such a success. Till next year—aza fady! Thank you for traveling with me!

Victor Emanuel Nature Tours 18 Madagascar Highlights & Ampijoroa-Betsiboka Pre-trip, 2018

The incredible Parson’s Chameleon was one of five chameleon species seen on this tour.

BIRDS:

*denotes seen on Ampijoroa extension only

White-faced Whistling-Duck (Dendrocygna viduata)

*Comb Duck (Sarkidiornis melanotos)

*African Pygmy-Goose (Nettapus auritus)

*Meller’s Duck (Anas melleri)

Red-billed Teal (Anas erythrorhyncha)

Hottentot Teal (Anas hottentota)

*Bernier’s Teal (Anas bernieri)

Victor Emanuel Nature Tours 19 Madagascar Highlights & Ampijoroa-Betsiboka Pre-trip, 2018 Helmeted Guineafowl (Numida meleagris) Introduced

Madagascar Partridge (Margaroperdix madagascarensis)

Little Grebe (Tachybaptus ruficollis)

Madagascar Grebe (Tachybaptus pelzelnii)

Greater Flamingo (Phoenicopterus roseus)

Lesser Flamingo (Phoenicopterus minor)

Red-tailed Tropicbird (Phaethon rubricauda)

*Long-tailed Cormorant (Microcarbo africanus)

Hamerkop (Scopus umbretta)

Grey Heron (Ardea cinerea)

Humblot’s Heron (Ardea humbloti)

*Purple Heron (Ardea purpurea)

Great Egret (Ardea alba)

Little (Dimorphic) Egret (Egretta garzetta dimorpha)

Black Heron (Egretta ardesiaca)

Cattle Egret (Bubulcus ibis)

Squacco Heron (Ardeola ralloides)

Madagascar Pond-Heron (Ardeola idae)

Victor Emanuel Nature Tours 20 Madagascar Highlights & Ampijoroa-Betsiboka Pre-trip, 2018 Striated Heron (Butorides striata)

Black-crowned Night-Heron (Nycticorax nycticorax)

*Glossy Ibis (Plegadis falcinellus)

Madagascar Crested Ibis (Lophotibis cristata)

*Madagascar Sacred Ibis (Threskiornis [aethiopicus] bernieri)

Madagascar Harrier-Hawk (Polyboroides radiatus)

Madagascar Serpent-Eagle (Eutriorchis astur)

*France’s Goshawk (Accipiter francesiae)

Madagascar Sparrowhawk (Accipiter madagascariensis)

Henst’s Goshawk (Accipiter henstii)

Yellow-billed Kite (Milvus [migrans] parasiticus)

*Madagascar Fish-Eagle (Haliaeetus vociferoides)

Madagascar Buzzard (Buteo brachypterus)

*White-breasted Mesite ( variegatus)

Subdesert Mesite (Monias benschi)

Madagascar Flufftail (Sarothura insularis)

Madagascar Rail (Rallus madagascariensis)

White-throated Rail (Dryolimnas cuvieri)

*Allen’s Gallinule (Porphyrio alleni)

African Swamphen (Porphyrio madagascariensis)

Victor Emanuel Nature Tours 21 Madagascar Highlights & Ampijoroa-Betsiboka Pre-trip, 2018 Eurasian Moorhen (Gallinula chloropus)

Red-knobbed Coot (Fulica cristata)

Black-winged Stilt (Himantopus himantopus)

Black-bellied Plover (Pluvialis squatarola)

Greater Sand-Plover (Charadrius leschenaulti)

Kittlitz’s Plover (Charadrius pecuarius)

Common Ringed Plover (Charadrius hiaticula)

Madagascar Plover (Charadrius thoracicus)

White-fronted Plover (Charadrius marginatus)

Greater Painted-Snipe (Rostratula benghalensis)

*Madagascar Jacana (Actophilornis albinucha)

Crab Plover (Dromas ardeola)

*Terek Sandpiper (Xenus cinereus)

Common Sandpiper (Actitis hypoleucos)

Common Greenshank (Tringa nebularia)

Whimbrel (Numenius phaeopus)

Ruddy Turnstone (Arenaria interpres)

Sanderling (Calidris alba)

Curlew Sandpiper (Calidris ferruginea)

Victor Emanuel Nature Tours 22 Madagascar Highlights & Ampijoroa-Betsiboka Pre-trip, 2018 Little Stint (Calidris minuta)

Madagascar Snipe (Gallinago macrodactyla)

Madagascar Buttonquail (Turnix nigricollis)

Madagascar Pratincole (Glareola ocularis)

*Saunder’s Tern (Sternula saundersi)

Caspian Tern (Hydroprogne caspia)

Common Tern (Sterna hirundo)

Great Crested Tern (Thalasseus bergii)

Lesser Crested Tern (Thalasseus bengalensis)

Madagascar Sandgrouse (Pterocles personatus)

Rock Pigeon (Columba livia) Introduced

Madagascar Turtle-Dove (Streptopelia picturata)

Namaqua Dove (Oena capensis)

*Madagascar Green-Pigeon (Treron australis)

Madagascar Blue-Pigeon (Alectroenas madagascariensis)

Giant Coua (Coua gigas)

Coquerel’s Coua (Coua coquereli)

Red-breasted Coua (Coua serriana)

Red-fronted Coua (Coua reynaudii)

Victor Emanuel Nature Tours 23 Madagascar Highlights & Ampijoroa-Betsiboka Pre-trip, 2018 *Red-capped Coua (Coua ruficeps ruficeps)

Green-capped Coua (Coua ruficeps olivaceps)

Running Coua (Coua cursor)

Crested Coua (Coua cristata)

Verreaux’s Coua (Coua verreauxi)

Blue Coua (Coua caerulea)

Madagascar Coucal (Centropus tolou)

Madagascar Cuckoo (Cuculus rochii)

Barn Owl (Tyto alba)

Malagasy (Rainforest) Scops-Owl (Otus rutilus) Heard only

Torotoroka Scops-owl (Otus madagascariensis) Heard only

Madagascar Long-eared Owl (Asio madagascariensis)

White-browed Owl (Ninox superciliaris)

Collared Nightjar (Gactornis enarratus)

Madagascar Nightjar (Caprimulgus madagascariensis)

Malagasy Spinetail (Zoonavena grandidieri)

Alpine Swift (Apus melba)

Madagascar Swift (Apus balstoni)

Little Swift (Apus affinis)

African Palm-Swift (Cypsiurus parvus)

Victor Emanuel Nature Tours 24 Madagascar Highlights & Ampijoroa-Betsiboka Pre-trip, 2018 Cuckoo-Roller (Leptosomus discolor)

Madagascar Hoopoe (Upupa marginata)

Malagasy (Malachite) Kingfisher (Corythornis vintsioides)

Madagascar Pygmy Kingfisher (Corythornis madagascariensis)

Madagascar (Olive) Bee-eater (Merops superciliosus)

Broad-billed Roller (Eurystomus glaucurus)

Short-legged Ground-Roller ( leptosomus)

Scaly Ground-Roller (Brachypteracias squamiger)

Pitta-like Ground-Roller ( pittoides)

Long-tailed Ground-Roller (Uratelornis chimaera)

Madagascar Kestrel (Falco newtoni)

Sooty Falcon (Falco concolor)

*Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus)

Greater Vasa-Parrot (Mascarinus vasa)

Lesser Vasa-Parrot (Mascarinus nigra)

Grey-headed Lovebird (Agapornis canus)

Velvet Asity (Philepitta castanea)

Victor Emanuel Nature Tours 25 Madagascar Highlights & Ampijoroa-Betsiboka Pre-trip, 2018 *Schlegel’s Asity (Philepitta schlegelii)

Archbold’s Newtonia (Newtonia archboldi)

Common Newtonia (Newtonia brunneicauda)

Tylas Vanga (Tylas eduardii)

Red-tailed Vanga (Calicalius madagascariensis)

Red-shouldered Vanga (Calicalius rufocarpalis)

Nuthatch Vanga (Hypositta corallirostris)

Chabert’s Vanga (Leptopterus chabert)

Blue Vanga (Cyanolanius madagascarinus)

Hook-billed Vanga (Vanga curvirostris)

Ward’s (Flycatcher) Vanga (Pseudobias wardi)

Rufous Vanga (Schetba rufa)

Sickle-billed Vanga (Falculea palliata)

White-headed Vanga (Artamella viridis)

Lafresnaye’s Vanga ( xenopirostris)

*Van Dam’s Vanga (Xenopirostris damii)

Ashy Cuckoo-shrike (Coracina cinerea)

Crested Drongo (Dicrurus forficatus)

Madagascar Paradise-Flycatcher (Terpsiphone mutata)

Pied Crow (Corvus albus)

Victor Emanuel Nature Tours 26 Madagascar Highlights & Ampijoroa-Betsiboka Pre-trip, 2018

Madagascar Lark (Mirafra hova)

Plain (Brown-throated) Martin (Riparia paludicola)

Mascarene Martin (Phedina borbonica)

Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica)

Madagascar (Hypsipetes madagascariensis)

Madagascar Brush-Warbler (Nesillas typica)

Subdesert Brush-Warbler (Nesillas lantzii)

Madagascar Swamp-Warbler (Acrocephalus newtoni)

White-throated Oxylabes (Oxylabes madagascariensis)

Long-billed Bernieria (Bernieria madagascariensis)

Wedge-tailed Jery (Hartertula flavoviridis)

Thamnornis (Thamnornis chloropetoides)

Spectacled Tetraka ( zosterops)

Appert’s Tetraka (Xanthomixis apperti)

Rand’s Warbler (Randia pseudzosterops)

Common Jery (Neomixis tenella)

Green Jery (Neomixis viridis)

Stripe-throated Jery (Neomixis striatigula)

Madagascar Cisticola (Cisticola cherina)

Victor Emanuel Nature Tours 27 Madagascar Highlights & Ampijoroa-Betsiboka Pre-trip, 2018

Madagascar White-eye (Zosterops maderaspatanus)

Madagascar Magpie-Robin (Copsychus albospecularis)

Forest Rock-Thrush (Monticola sharpei)

Littoral Rock-Thrush (Monticola imerina)

Madagascar (African) Stonechat (Saxicola rubicola sibilla)

Madagascar Starling (Saroglossa aurata)

Common Myna (Acridotheres tristis) Introduced

Souimanga Sunbird (Cinnyris souimanga)

Madagascar Green Sunbird (Cinnyris notatus)

Madagascar Wagtail (Motacilla flaviventris)

Nelicourvi Weaver ( nelicourvi)

Sakalava Weaver (Ploceus sakalava)

Red Fody (Foudia madagascariensis)

Forest Fody (Foudia omissa)

*House Sparrow (Passer domesticus) Introduced

Madagascar Munia (Lonchura nana)

Victor Emanuel Nature Tours 28 Madagascar Highlights & Ampijoroa-Betsiboka Pre-trip, 2018 MAMMALS:

Lesser Hedgehog (Echinops telfari)

Furry-eared Dwarf-Lemur (Cheirogaleus crossleyi)

*Golden-brown Mouse Lemur (Microcebus ravelobensis)

Grey-brown Mouse-Lemur (Microcebus griseorufus)

Goodman’s Mouse-Lemur (Microcebus lehilahytsara)

Ring-tailed Lemur (Lemur catta)

Red-fronted Brown Lemur (Eulemur rufus)

Common Brown Lemur (Eulemur fulvus)

Eastern Lesser Bamboo Lemur (Hapalemur griseus)

Black-and-white Ruffed Lemur (Varecia variegata) Heard only

*Milne-Edward’s Sportive Lemur (Lepilemur edwardsi)

Hubbard’s Sportive Lemur (Lepilemur hubbardorum)

Indri (Indri indri)

Diademed Sifaka (Propithecus diadema)

*Coquerel’s Sifaka (Propithecus coquereli)

*Crowned Sifaka (Propithecus coronatus)

Verreaux’s Sifaka (Propithecus verreauxi)

Lowland Red Forest Rat (Nesomys audeberti)

Victor Emanuel Nature Tours 29 Madagascar Highlights & Ampijoroa-Betsiboka Pre-trip, 2018

Commerson’s Leafnosed Bat (Hipposideros commersoni)

Humpback Whale (Megaptera novaeangliae)

REPTILES AND AMPHIBIANS:

Spider Tortoise (Pyxis arachnoides)

Short-horned Chameleon (Calumma brevicornis)

Parson’s Chameleon (Calumma parsonii)

*Rhinoceros Chameleon (Furcifer rhinoceratus)

Oustalet’s Chameleon (Furcifer oustaleti)

Warty Chameleon (Furcifer verrucosus)

Three-eyed Lizard (Chalarodon madagascariensis)

Spiny-tailed Iguana (Oplurus cyclurus)

Four-spotted Iguana (Oplurus quadrimaculatus)

*Cuvier’s Iguana (Oplurus cuvieri)

Sakalava Gecko (Homopholis sakalava)

(Lygodactylus tolampi)

Mercator Tropical House Gecko ( mercatorius)

*Madagascar Day Gecko (Phelsuma madagascariensis)

Standing’s Day Gecko (Phelsuma standingii)

Victor Emanuel Nature Tours 30 Madagascar Highlights & Ampijoroa-Betsiboka Pre-trip, 2018 Brown Day Gecko (Phelsuma mutabilis)

Lineated Day Gecko (Phelsuma lineata)

Madagascar Plated Lizard ( madagascariensis)

*Stripe-tailed Plated Lizard (Zonosaurus Laticauda)

(Trachylepis madagascariensis)

Madagascar Tree Boa (Sanzinia madagascariensis)

Dumeril’s Ground Boa (Acrantophis dumerili)

Giant Hog-nosed Snake (Leioheterodon madagascariensis)

(Liopholidophis thieli)

Mahafaly Sand Snake (Mimophis mahfalensis)

Painted Mantella (Mantella baroni)

Green Tree Frog (Boophis viridis)

Victor Emanuel Nature Tours 31 Madagascar Highlights & Ampijoroa-Betsiboka Pre-trip, 2018